Chasing the Boogeyman
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-11-03 09:50:58
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Richard Chizmar
- ISBN：1982175168
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
The
New York Times
bestselling coauthor of
Gwendy’s Button Box
brings his signature prose to this story of small-town evil that combines the storytelling of Stephen King with the true-crime suspense of Michelle McNamara。
In the summer of 1988， the mutilated bodies of several missing girls begin to turn up in a small Maryland town。 The grisly evidence leads police to the terrifying assumption that a serial killer is on the loose in the quiet suburb。 But soon a rumor begins to spread that the evil stalking local teens is not entirely human。 Law enforcement， as well as members of the FBI are certain that the killer is a living， breathing madman—and he’s playing games with them。 For a once peaceful community trapped in the depths of paranoia and suspicion， it feels like a nightmare that will never end。
Recent college graduate Richard Chizmar returns to his hometown just as a curfew is enacted and a neighborhood watch is formed。 In the midst of preparing for his wedding and embarking on a writing career， he soon finds himself thrust into the real-life horror story。 Inspired by the terrifying events， Richard writes a personal account of the serial killer’s reign of terror， unaware that these events will continue to haunt him for years to come。
A clever， terrifying， and heartrending work of metafiction， Chasing the Boogeyman is the ultimate marriage between horror fiction and true crime。 Chizmar’s writing is on full display in this truly unique novel that will haunt you long after you turn the final page。
In the summer of 1988， the mutilated bodies of several missing girls begin to turn up in a small Maryland town。 The grisly evidence leads police to the terrifying assumption that a serial killer is on the loose in the quiet suburb。 But soon a rumor begins to spread that the evil stalking local teens is not entirely human。 Law enforcement， as well as members of the FBI are certain that the killer is a living， breathing madman—and he’s playing games with them。 For a once peaceful community trapped in the depths of paranoia and suspicion， it feels like a nightmare that will never end。
Recent college graduate Richard Chizmar returns to his hometown just as a curfew is enacted and a neighborhood watch is formed。 In the midst of preparing for his wedding and embarking on a writing career， he soon finds himself thrust into the real-life horror story。 Inspired by the terrifying events， Richard writes a personal account of the serial killer’s reign of terror， unaware that these events will continue to haunt him for years to come。
A clever， terrifying， and heartrending work of metafiction， Chasing the Boogeyman is the ultimate marriage between horror fiction and true crime。 Chizmar’s writing is on full display in this truly unique novel that will haunt you long after you turn the final page。
Reviews
Elizabeth
，
Okay， so yes I liked this book and I know it's fiction but it seems SO TRUE。 At the end I was almost disappointed this killer wasn't real because his story was so believable and well。。。dang。 Good Job Richard Chizmar！ Definitely recommend。 Okay， so yes I liked this book and I know it's fiction but it seems SO TRUE。 At the end I was almost disappointed this killer wasn't real because his story was so believable and well。。。dang。 Good Job Richard Chizmar！ Definitely recommend。 。。。more
Timothy Baldwin
，
An excellent and entertaining read。 I loved the authenticity put into the story。 At times， I thought for sure it really happened。 Fully immersive。
Andy
，
Not bad， but I feel like there wasn't that much story。 It was stretched out into this long book when it could （and probably should） have been much shorter。 Not bad， but I feel like there wasn't that much story。 It was stretched out into this long book when it could （and probably should） have been much shorter。 。。。more
MacKenzie Wood
，
4。5
Chaitanya Iragavarapu
，
What left me profoundly disappointed about Chasing the Bogeyman is that if it were an episode of Criminal Minds， it wouldn’t have made the top 50 episodes and only occupied 1 hour of my time
Bob
，
Very good serial killer killer mystery。 It unravels in a most unusual way through the author’s evolving recollections as the narrator of this tale， and as one the key characters。
Lisa Anders
，
Suspense overload。 I had to keep stopping myself from googling just to see if this story was real or not。 Love the style of writing。
Laura
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This book drew me in。 I really enjoyed the writing style， it was so realistic I kept thinking it was true。 Because it really reads like true crime。 Really great book。
Ana Zamfirescu
，
I don't know how I feel about this one。 I definitely liked it， the writing is excellent， but at times I wished it was shorter。 I kept getting distracted， especially in the beginning with all those unnecessary details boring me to tears。 I don't know how I feel about this one。 I definitely liked it， the writing is excellent， but at times I wished it was shorter。 I kept getting distracted， especially in the beginning with all those unnecessary details boring me to tears。 。。。more
Lazycatfarm
，
Blah， blah， blah get to the good part already！ Too much detail about minutia stuff。 ugh。
Veneta N
，
Brilliant concept！ Fictional murder story written in the style of true crime books with lots of autobiographical elements thrown in the mix （+1⭐️ for the genre combo）。 Loved the writing and the story was very compelling， reminiscent of I’ll be Gone in the Dark。 Wish it was darker and scarier
Permanently_Booked
，
I'm definitely glad I joined a readalong for this one。 Now I want to preface by pointing out that I am not a True Crime reader nor a documentary type reader so this was out of my comfort zone in a way。 I listened on audio and while I enjoyed the idea of it and the almost note-like setup， I didn't feel that huge desire to keep moving forward。 Don't get me wrong， I wanted to know who did it and I was caught up in the nostalgic reminiscence the author created。 I think I am just more attuned to horr I'm definitely glad I joined a readalong for this one。 Now I want to preface by pointing out that I am not a True Crime reader nor a documentary type reader so this was out of my comfort zone in a way。 I listened on audio and while I enjoyed the idea of it and the almost note-like setup， I didn't feel that huge desire to keep moving forward。 Don't get me wrong， I wanted to know who did it and I was caught up in the nostalgic reminiscence the author created。 I think I am just more attuned to horror thrillers or gory slashers with pulse pounding paces。 With that said， I do recommend this to those who enjoy this genre。 I did like it overall and loved the personable aspects that are evident in this novels creation。 It's more so the plot itself that I wanted more from overall。 Definitely check out the other reviews if you're on the fence！ 。。。more
Annette Kim
，
（No spoilers）。 This book is a great， thrilling， fast， fun ride！ The writing is reminiscent of King but in his own voice。 The first person narrative really takes you into the true crime feel。 It seems 100% non fiction。 Great story and excellent character development。 Also， the writing immerses the reader into his small hometown。 Amazing book！
Dan Johnson
，
Very good read， although fiction it reads almost as if the kidnappings actually did really happen。
Sandra Ramirez-Noguchi
，
A BRILLIANT page-turner along the lines of "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara with the nostalgic storytelling of Ray Bradbury that reads like vintage Stephen King。 I was glued to this true crime tale and really cared about all the characters。 This book 100% succeeded in reeling me in - even making me forget it was a work of fiction。 Pure genius！！ But that's what great storytelling and writing is all about。 I will be thinking about this one for years to come。 HIGHLY RECOMMEND！！ A BRILLIANT page-turner along the lines of "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara with the nostalgic storytelling of Ray Bradbury that reads like vintage Stephen King。 I was glued to this true crime tale and really cared about all the characters。 This book 100% succeeded in reeling me in - even making me forget it was a work of fiction。 Pure genius！！ But that's what great storytelling and writing is all about。 I will be thinking about this one for years to come。 HIGHLY RECOMMEND！！ 。。。more
JS
，
Probably more of a 3。5。 Utterly readable but not super compelling
Pisces51
，
CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN [2021] By Richard ChizmarMy Review Three Stars*** I seized the opportunity to read this much-hyped novel a couple of weeks ago when it finally became available at the library。 It felt as though I had been waiting forever to “get my hands on it” so I was a little surprised when I took note of the fact that it had just been released the middle of August。 Then I realized that I had been looking forward to reading this book for quite a long time because the pre-publication buzz CHASING THE BOOGEYMAN [2021] By Richard ChizmarMy Review Three Stars*** I seized the opportunity to read this much-hyped novel a couple of weeks ago when it finally became available at the library。 It felt as though I had been waiting forever to “get my hands on it” so I was a little surprised when I took note of the fact that it had just been released the middle of August。 Then I realized that I had been looking forward to reading this book for quite a long time because the pre-publication buzz was loud enough to need ear plugs。 The tsunami of high praise in the form of pre-release customer book reviews， articles by literary critics， and published recommendations by many of the biggest names in crime fiction had stoked my expectations to an all-time high。 Chizmar was a new-to-me author but I was aware that he had co-authored the NYT Bestselling Gwendy’s Button with the “King of Horror”。 I had loved King’s THE OUTSIDER， which read like crime fiction until it didn’t。 Chizmar’s idea of writing a fictional novel set back in the ‘80s but dressing it up to look and feel like a true crime book sounded unique， perhaps indeed “… the ultimate marriage between horror fiction and true crime” as the book description promised。 I am not sure what I expected but this wasn’t it。 I’m torn as to whether the author succeeded in creating a “true crime facsimile”。 He most assuredly mixed background detail to the nth degree。 The first quarter of the novel read like the mind-numbing text of a History Book in a Social Studies Classroom。 The author then gradually turned the narrative into a series of telling tales from his youth， stunts he and his buddies pulled while they were growing up in a “boys will be boys” fashion。 Making it through all the historical background and the author’s “coming of age” episodes required a conscious effort on my part。 This novel is only 333 pages but it felt like it was endless。 I’ve read quite a number of true time novels and the narrative may contain some bits of background but if it is an interesting chronicle of the crime， police investigation， and catching the killer then the reader is not bored senseless。 The dense fog of malaise lifted at some point later in the book， when the narrative started to become more focused on the crimes that were committed。 The writing isn’t “bad”， it just isn’t at all riveting or suspenseful。 The stark black and white photos were a really nice touch and leant an authenticity to the author’s goal of creating a credible facsimile of true crime。 I liked the follow up that was added to the “original book”， once the gig was up and the serial killer identified。 The interviews behind bars were also intriguing and well written。 The author’s addition of personal background information in the follow up three decades down the road only served to make me wonder whether Chizmar recognized the credibility gaps （widespread metastatic cancer doesn’t end well）。 If his narrative about cancer was fact-based it would be a genuine miracle。 Finally， I know that this novel reflects a new writing gimmick that hasn’t been test-driven before。 It’s original in my opinion。 However， I’m glad I didn’t buy the car。 SUPRISINGLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS SENSATIONALLY POPULAR NEW RELEASE 。。。more
Becca Noggle
，
Great October read！ 4。5 stars， would love to read more of the genre！
Andrew
，
This was a great one。 Very readable， very entertaining。 Brilliantly constructed。 It has the reader constantly wondering “wait a minute…。 Did this really happen？！” Loved it。 Great job Richard！
Hensley Michael
，
I loved everything about this book！ Fiction that reads like true crime。 Bravo！
Juraj Béger
，
This is such a nice surprise。 To be honest， I bought the book just for the sake of being able to participate in a contest for a rare Stephen King IT edition （which I didn't win of course）。 I haven't read anything from Richard Chizmar so far， even when there is Gwendy's Button Box on my shelf。 Personally， I don't like crime stories very much， but this one has a very unique documentarist 'as if it would really happen' style。 It reminds me of World War Z in a way。 The book is filled with contempora This is such a nice surprise。 To be honest， I bought the book just for the sake of being able to participate in a contest for a rare Stephen King IT edition （which I didn't win of course）。 I haven't read anything from Richard Chizmar so far， even when there is Gwendy's Button Box on my shelf。 Personally， I don't like crime stories very much， but this one has a very unique documentarist 'as if it would really happen' style。 It reminds me of World War Z in a way。 The book is filled with contemporary pictures and the story is put in a real town with authentic places which brings me to a conclusion that this in fact wasn't a crime story per se。 The author is also the main character even when only in a bystander way， never the less very much involved。 According to this it might seem confusing but the book is just it opposite。 It very well fits together and the story works very well。 I am happy to stumble upon it。 。。。more
P Kumar
，
I did one wrong thing is I read the reviews when I was into mid of the book。 And few of review set the mood off。You can understand from this that even if I was not interested this book kept me reading。 The author do said that he did not touche the heart of the story when rewriting， but did not stated what was the heart。 The story of his family or the Boogyman？But I think it was first as after finishing the book at 2 am I wanted to call my dad and see if he is okay。 I missed him。 The book is sure I did one wrong thing is I read the reviews when I was into mid of the book。 And few of review set the mood off。You can understand from this that even if I was not interested this book kept me reading。 The author do said that he did not touche the heart of the story when rewriting， but did not stated what was the heart。 The story of his family or the Boogyman？But I think it was first as after finishing the book at 2 am I wanted to call my dad and see if he is okay。 I missed him。 The book is surely spooky and the ending well you know what it cause me to do。 。。。more
Brett Plaxton
，
I really liked Richard Chizmar’s take on the true crime genre while inserting himself into the story。
Lindsey
，
Such a clever， authentic read！ I loved every minute of it⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paul Preston
，
“I was there， I was a witness。 And， somehow， the monster’s story became my own。”I am not a true crime person。 I do not like sensationalizing serial killers and giving them the notoriety that they crave。 -this was the excuse I kept giving myself for not starting this book。 I was a fool。 I know Chizmar is an excellent writer and he knows how to tell a great story。 I was captivated right from the start。 I was swept away into an idyllic hometown。 I walked in Richard’s shoes and thought his thoughts。 “I was there， I was a witness。 And， somehow， the monster’s story became my own。”I am not a true crime person。 I do not like sensationalizing serial killers and giving them the notoriety that they crave。 -this was the excuse I kept giving myself for not starting this book。 I was a fool。 I know Chizmar is an excellent writer and he knows how to tell a great story。 I was captivated right from the start。 I was swept away into an idyllic hometown。 I walked in Richard’s shoes and thought his thoughts。 I felt his awkwardness when he saw the families of the victims and felt his excitement when they thought they might have caught a break。 I was completely enchanted with the strength of this town。 The pictures of actual places throughout the book made it hard to believe that this was not a true story。 Very well done 。。。more
Nicole
，
I made it to the first 50 pages and had to stop reading because it was too boring。
Stanjay Daniels
，
What a well-written fiction true crime story that takes place in the real life city of Edgewood， where I lived for a few years of my early adulthood。 I kept going back and forth believing that it was a true story when in fact it is fiction。 That’s how well it was written。 The pictures， the storyline and the interviews were just so real。 So good！
John Prettyman
，
Growing up in Maryland and knowing the towns described in this book may have skewed my opinion and made me bias， however， I loved this book and thought the idea of making this work of imagination seem like that of a true crime is brilliant。 Having the author put his own childhood into the story made this seem more realistic and even more terrifying to think that this could have happened。 Perfect read to finish on Halloween night。
Nancy
，
Great Read！Engrossing novel。 I kept having to remind myself that it’s fiction！ Well written， and nicely interweaves true crime with nostalgia。
Brice Williams
，
Wow。 This one crackles。 So interested in the story。 What intrigues me the most is what he does with the narrative。 I won’t give anything away， but do yourself a favor and go into this book without knowing much at all。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Chasing the Boogeyman
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Chasing the Boogeyman&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Chasing the Boogeyman&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0